Grants available for underreported stories [Worldwide]

Women journalists can apply for a new grant.

The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) has launched the Underreported Stories Grants. This new initiative seeks to support journalism produced by women journalists on underreported issues around the world. 

The first round of funding will support journalism covering the issue of forced labor in the U.S. agriculture sector in Texas, specifically South Texas (including the Rio Grande Valley) and Northwest Texas (including the Panhandle, the South Plains and a portion of West Texas).

Grants will range from US$10,000 to US$15,000 and should cover reporting-related costs including travel, logistics, visa fees and payment for fixers/translators.

Small teams and individuals are eligible. Preference will be given to projects that are time sensitive and have the support of an editor.

The deadline is Jan. 19.

For more information, click here.

RFCCI Contest on economic reporting ongoing [Russia]

Journalists of Russian federal and regional print, online and broadcast media can enter this contest.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (RF CCI), in collaboration with the Russian Union of Journalists (RUJ), is accepting entries for its annual economic reporting contest. The aim of the competition is to encourage the development of economic journalism in Russia and recognize outstanding work highlighting Russia's economic recovery.

The contest is held in regional and federal divisions.

Work can be submitted for judging in the following categories: best federal media, best regional media, best individual publication, best industrial media, best media in the RF CCI system and a category for young journalists.

The winners will receive diplomas and prizes.

The deadline for the regional round is Feb 1. The deadline for the federal round is March 1.

For more information (in Russian), click here.

SOPA seeks entries for editorial excellence contest [Asia]

Newspapers, magazines, wire services and websites can compete for this award.

The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) invites entries in English and Chinese for its annual awards. The SOPA Awards for Editorial Excellence were established in 1999 as a tribute to editorial excellence in both traditional and new media throughout the region.

The awards cover 17 categories, including Journalist of the Year, environment reporting, investigative reporting, reporting on women's issues, news photography, information graphics and editorial cartooning.

Works must have been published in 2017. Finalists will be announced in May and will be invited to the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in June in Hong Kong.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 31. Entry fees vary according to the size of the publication, from HKD900 to HKD1,600. There is a 15 percent discount for SOPA members.

For more information, click here.

IREX offers grants for media projects [Jordan]

Journalists and others involved in youth and women's organizations can apply for this program in Jordan.

The USAID Takamol program, implemented by IREX, is seeking proposals for the Souk Takamol grants from Jordanian who are working to promote, advocate for and monitor the implementation of local gender priorities.

The program will provide assistance, training and/or grants to build the capacity of national and grassroots organizations including civil society actors, media and government.

Selected applicants will receive up to JOD5,000 (US$7,037) per initiative.

The deadline is Jan. 25.

For more information, click here.

Knight Science Journalism Fellowships open [Worldwide]

Midcareer journalists covering science, technology, the environment or medicine can apply for a fellowship at MIT.

The Knight Science Journalism Fellowships host international and U.S. journalists for nine months of personalized study, auditing courses at MIT and Harvard, attending lectures and interviewing faculty members.

Fellows receive a US$70,000 stipend plus tuition. Additional benefits include health insurance, research trip stipends, conference stipends and access to MIT and Harvard resources.

Applicants must have English proficiency and at least three years of experience as reporters, writers, editors, producers, illustrators or photojournalists. They may work for newspapers, magazines, television, radio or the web.

The deadline is Feb. 28.

For more information, click here.

Foundation seeks entries for trip to Japan [US]

U.S. journalists can apply for the trip as part of the "Illuminating today's Japan for American audiences" program.

The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) is seeking applicants for a 19-day trip funded by the United States-Japan Foundation. The program will help to make independent coverage of neglected issues possible. As a result of this program, American audiences will receive fresh, innovative coverage of topics that highlight Japan.

Candidates will be selected based on the quality of story ideas. Examples of issues that journalists can explore include business, trade, energy, culture, immigration and climate change.

Other key considerations will include the journalists’ professional qualifications, level of experience and their media organization’s audience.

The program consists of three phases: orientation to discuss each journalist’s story ideas mid-March/April 2018; individual reporting travel and tours around Japan May to September 2018; and return and completion of reporting for publication or broadcast September to December 2018.

ICFJ program staff will assist with travel arrangements, visas and other logistics.

The deadline is March 4.

For more information, click here.

NUFFIC NESO offers Scholarships to study in the Netherlands [Brazil]

Brazilian students in various fields, including communication, can apply.

The Orange Tulip Scholarship Programme 2018 (OTS), administered by the Nuffic Neso Brazil, is granting full and partial scholarships, worth up to EUR50,000, for postgraduate and undergraduate students.

The scholarships are intended for courses taught in English in a variety of affiliated universities in the Netherlands.

Candidates must be fluent in English and meet specific requirements set by the university of their choice.

The regular deadline is April 1, but some universities may have earlier or later deadlines.

For more information (in Portuguese), click here.

SADC seeks entries for media competition [Africa]

Print, photo and broadcast journalists can compete.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) launched the 2018 SADC Media Awards, which aim to recognize excellence in journalism as well as to encourage media practitioners in member states to cover issues pertaining to the region. 

The themes of the competition are issues and activities promoting regional integration in the SADC region, such as infrastructure, economy, water, culture, sports and agriculture. 

The categories include print, radio, television and photojournalism. All works entered in the competition should be in English, Portuguese, French or any national indigenous language of the SADC Region.

Journalists from Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe are eligible.

Each category winner will be awarded US$2,500. The runner-ups in each category will receive US$1,000.

The deadline is Feb. 27, 2018.

For more information, click here.

Columbia University: Journalism Fellowship open [Worldwide]

Journalists, educators and education policy researchers can apply for a US$75,000 fellowship.

Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism presents the Spencer Fellowship for Education Journalism, supporting long-form journalism that enhances the public's understanding of the American education system.

Four fellows will be selected for one year of academic research at Columbia University with hands-on advising from education writing experts. Journalism projects must be published after completion.

International journalists may apply but their projects must cover the American education system and be published and distributed in the United States.

Applicants must submit a resume, writing samples, a reporting project proposal, at least three recommendation letters and a coursework proposal by Feb. 1, 2018.

For more information, click here.

CFPD seeks entries for online workshop on elections reporting [Latin America]

Anyone can register for this online workshop in Spanish.

The Center for Digital Journalism (CFPD) at the University of Guadalajara is organizing the course "Cobertura electoral de calidad" ("Quality electoral reporting") Feb. 5 to March 18, 2018.

Participants will develop criteria and establish working strategies for a quality electoral coverage, applying civic journalism and fact-checking. They will learn to interview political candidates, to analyze government plans and more.

The instructor is Sandra Crucianelli. The cost is MXN1,600 for Mexicans and US$100 for those living outside Mexico.

The deadline to register is Jan. 22.

For more information (in Spanish), click here.